1996 Edition

Description

white with a copper-colored silhouette of the island (the name Cyprus is derived from the Greek word for copper) above two green crossed olive branches in the center of the flag; the branches symbolize the hope for peace and reconciliation between the Greek and Turkish communities

Location

35 00 N, 33 00 E -- Middle East, island in the Mediterranean Sea, south of Turkey Flag ----

Area

comparative area

about 0.7 times the size of Connecticut

land area

9,240 sq km

total area

9,250 sq km (note - 3,355 sq km are in the Turkish area)

Climate

temperate, Mediterranean with hot, dry summers and cool, wet winters

Coastline

648 km

Environment

current issues

water resource problems (no natural reservoir catchments, seasonal disparity in rainfall, and most potable resources concentrated in the Turkish Cypriot area); water pollution from sewage and industrial wastes; coastal degradation; loss of wildlife habitats from urbanization

international agreements

party to - Air Pollution, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Climate Change

natural hazards

moderate earthquake activity

Geographic coordinates

35 00 N, 33 00 E

International disputes

1974 hostilities divided the island into two de facto autonomous areas, a Greek area controlled by the Cypriot Government (59% of the island's land area) and a Turkish-Cypriot area (37% of the island), that are separated by a UN buffer zone (4% of the island); there are two UK sovereign base areas within the Greek Cypriot portion of the island

Irrigated land

350 sq km (1989)

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land

40%

forest and woodland

18%

meadows and pastures

10%

other

25%

permanent crops

7%

Location

Middle East, island in the Mediterranean Sea, south of Turkey

Map references

Middle East

Maritime claims

continental shelf

200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

territorial sea

12 nm

Natural resources

copper, pyrites, asbestos, gypsum, timber, salt, marble, clay earth pigment

Terrain

central plain with mountains to north and south; scattered but significant plains along southern coast

highest point

Olympus 1,952 m

lowest point

Mediterranean Sea 0 m

Age structure

0-14 years: 25% (male 97,400; female 92,110) 15-64 years: 64% (male 240,716; female 238,039) 65 years and over: 11% (male 33,340; female 43,004) (July 1996 est.)

Birth rate

15.39 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate

7.66 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Ethnic divisions

total

Greek 78% (99.5% of the Greeks live in the Greek area; 0.5% of the Greeks live in the Turkish area), Turkish 18% (1.3% of the Turks live in the Greek area; 98.7% of the Turks live in the Turkish area), other 4% (99.2% of the other ethnic groups live in the Greek area; 0.8% of the other ethnic groups live in the Turkish area)

Infant mortality rate

8.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Languages

Greek, Turkish, English

Life expectancy at birth

female

78.52 years (1996 est.)

male

74.11 years

total population

76.26 years

Literacy

age 15 and over can read and write (1987 est.)

female

91%

male

98%

total population

94%

Nationality

adjective

Cypriot

noun

Cypriot(s)

Net migration rate

3.38 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Population

744,609 (July 1996 est.)

Population growth rate

1.11% (1996 est.)

Religions

Greek Orthodox 78%, Muslim 18%, Maronite, Armenian Apostolic, and other 4%

Sex ratio

all ages

1 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

under 15 years

1.06 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female

Total fertility rate

2.19 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Administrative divisions

6 districts; Famagusta, Kyrenia, Larnaca, Limassol, Nicosia, Paphos; note - Turkish area administrative divisions include Kyrenia, all but a small part of Famagusta, and small parts of Nicosia and Larnaca

Capital

Nicosia

note

the Turkish area's capital is Lefkosa (Nicosia)

Constitution

16 August 1960; negotiations to create the basis for a new or revised constitution to govern the island and to better relations between Greek and Turkish Cypriots have been held intermittently; in 1975 Turkish Cypriots created their own constitution and governing bodies within the "Turkish Federated State of Cyprus," which was renamed the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" in 1983; a new constitution for the Turkish area passed by referendum on 5 May 1985

Data code

CY

Diplomatic representation in US

chancery

2211 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador Andreas J. JACOVIDES

consulate(s) general

New York

note

Representative of the Turkish area in the US is Namik KORMAN, office at 1667 K Street NW, Washington, DC, telephone [1] (202) 887-6198

telephone

[1] (202) 462-5772

Executive branch

cabinet

Council of Ministers was appointed jointly by the president and vice president

chief of state and head of government

President Glafcos CLERIDES (since 28 February 1993) was elected for a five-year term by universal suffrage; election last held 14 February 1993 (next to be held NA February 1998); results - Glafcos CLERIDES 50.3%, Yeoryios VASSILIOU 49.7%

note

Rauf R. DENKTASH has been "president" of the Turkish area since 13 February 1975 (president is elected for a five-year term by universal suffrage); Hakki ATUN has been "prime minister" of the Turkish area since 1 January 1994; there is a Council of Ministers (cabinet) in the Turkish area; elections last held 15 and 22 April 1995 (next to be held NA April 2000); results - Rauf R. DENKTASH 62.5%, Dervis EROGLU 37.5%

FAX

[357] (2) 465944

Flag

white with a copper-colored silhouette of the island (the name Cyprus is derived from the Greek word for copper) above two green crossed olive branches in the center of the flag; the branches symbolize the hope for peace and reconciliation between the Greek and Turkish communities

note

the Turkish Cypriot flag has a horizontal red stripe at the top and bottom between which is a red crescent and red star on a white field

Greek area

House of Representatives (Vouli Antiprosopon): elections last held 19 May 1991 (next to be held May 1996); results - DISY 35.8%, AKEL (Communist) 30.6%, DIKO 19.5%, EDEK 10.9%; others 3.2%; seats - (56 total) DISY 20, AKEL (Communist) 18, DIKO 11, EDEK 7

Progressive Party of the Working People (AKEL, Communist Party), Dimitrios CHRISTOFIAS; Democratic Rally (DISY), Ioannis MATSIS; Democratic Party (DIKO), Spyros KYPRIANOU; United Democratic Union of the Center (EDEK), Vassos LYSSARIDIS; Socialist Democratic Renewal Movement (ADISOK), Mikhalis PAPAPETROU; Liberal Party, Nikolaos ROLANDIS; Free Democrats, Yeoryios VASSILIOU; New Horizons, Nikolaos KOUTSOU, secretary general

Independence

16 August 1960 (from UK)

note

Turkish area proclaimed self-rule on NA February 1975 from Republic of Cyprus

International organization participation

C, CCC, CE, EBRD, ECE, EU (applicant), FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarset, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, NAM, OAS (observer), OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Judicial branch

Supreme Court, judges are appointed by the Supreme Council of Judicature

note

there is also a Supreme Court in the Turkish area

Legal system

based on common law, with civil law modifications

Legislative branch

unicameral

Name of country

conventional long form

Republic of Cyprus

conventional short form

Cyprus

note

the Turkish area refers to itself as the "Turkish Republic" or the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" (TRNC)

National holiday

Independence Day, 1 October

note

Turkish area celebrates 15 November as Independence Day

Other political or pressure groups

United Democratic Youth Organization (EDON, Communist controlled); Union of Cyprus Farmers (EKA, Communist controlled); Cyprus Farmers Union (PEK, pro-West); Pan-Cyprian Labor Federation (PEO, Communist controlled); Confederation of Cypriot Workers (SEK, pro-West); Federation of Turkish Cypriot Labor Unions (Turk-Sen); Confederation of Revolutionary Labor Unions (Dev-Is)

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Turkish area

Assembly of the Republic (Cumhuriyet Meclisi): elections last held 12 December 1993 (next to be held NA); results - UBP 29.9%, DP 29.2%, CTP 24.2% TKP 13.3%, others 3.4%; seats - (50 total) UBP (conservative) 15, DP 16, CTP 13, TKP 5, UDP 1

National Unity Party (UBP), Dervis EROGLU; Communal Liberation Party (TKP), Mustafa AKINCI; Republican Turkish Party (CTP), Mehmet ALI TALAT; New Cyprus Party (YKP), Alpay DURDURAN; Free Democratic Party (HDP), Ismet KOTAK; Nationalist Justice Party (MAP), Zorlu TORE; Unity and Sovereignty Party (BEP), Arif Salih KIRDAG; Democratic Party (DP), Serdar DENKTASH; National Birth Party (UDP), Enver EMIN; the HDP, MAP, and VP merged under the label National Struggle Unity Party (MMBP) to compete in the 12 December 1993 legislative election

Type of government

republic

note

a disaggregation of the two ethnic communities inhabiting the island began after the outbreak of communal strife in 1963; this separation was further solidified following the Turkish invasion of the island in July 1974, which gave the Turkish Cypriots de facto control in the north; Greek Cypriots control the only internationally recognized government; on 15 November 1983 Turkish Cypriot "President" Rauf DENKTASH declared independence and the formation of a "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" (TRNC), which has been recognized only by Turkey; both sides publicly call for the resolution of intercommunal differences and creation of a new federal system of government

US diplomatic representation

chief of mission

Ambassador Richard A. BOUCHER

embassy

corner of Metochiou and Ploutarchou Streets, Engomi, Nicosia

mailing address

P. O. Box 4536, FPO AE 09836

telephone

[357] (2) 476100

Agriculture

potatoes, vegetables, barley, grapes, olives, citrus, vegetables

Budget

expenditures

Greek area - $3.4 billion, including capital expenditures of $500 million, Turkish area - $350 million, including capital expenditures of $75 million (1996 est.)

revenues

Greek area - $2.3 billion, Turkish area - $246 million

Currency

1 Cypriot pound (LC) = 100 cents; 1 Turkish lira (TL) = 100 kurus

Economic overview

The Greek Cypriot economy is small and prosperous, but highly susceptible to external shocks. Industry contributes 25% to GDP and employs 26% of the labor force, while the service sector contributes 70% to GDP and employs 62% of the labor force. After surging 9.7% in 1992, economic growth slowed to 1.6% in 1993 - its lowest level in two decades - because of the decline in tourist arrivals associated with the recession in Western Europe, Cyprus' main trading partner, and the loss in export competitiveness due to a sharp rise in unit labor costs. However, real GDP picked up in 1994 and 1995, as inflation fell from 4.7% to about 3%. Economic

prospects appear favorable for 1996

real GDP is likely to grow between 3% and 4%, and inflation is likely to rise slightly to 3.5%-4.5%. The Turkish Cypriot economy has less than one-third the per capita GDP of the south. Because it is recognized only by Turkey, it has had much difficulty arranging foreign financing, and foreign firms have hesitated to invest there. The economy remains heavily dependent on agriculture and government service, which together employ about half of the work force. Moreover, the small, vulnerable economy has suffered because the Turkish lira is legal tender. Economic growth sharply dropped during 1994 because of the severe economic crisis affecting the mainland, and inflation soared to 215%. To compensate for the economy's weakness, Turkey provides direct and indirect aid to nearly every sector; financial support has risen and now equals in value about one-third of Turkish Cypriot GDP.

Electricity

capacity

550,000 kW

consumption per capita

2,903 kWh (1993)

production

2.3 billion kWh

Exchange rates

Cypriot pounds per US1$ - 0.4628 (January 1996), 0.4522 (1995), 0.4915 (1994), 0.4970 (1993), 0.4502 (1992), 0.4633 (1991); Turkish liras (TL) per US$1 - 60,502.1 (January 1996), 45,845.1 (1995), 29,608.7 (1994), 10,984.6 (1993), 6,872.4 (1992), 4,171.8 (1991)

Fiscal year

calendar year

Greek area

purchasing power parity - $7.8 billion (1995 est.)

5% (1995 est.)

$13,000 (1995 est.)

3% (1995 est.)

294,100

2.7% (1994)

3.7% (1994)

$968 million (f.o.b., 1994)

$2.7 billion (f.o.b., 1994)

$1.4 billion (1994)

by occupation

services 61.5%, industry 26%, agriculture 12.5% (1994)

commodities

citrus, potatoes, grapes, wine, cement, clothing and shoes

commodities

consumer goods, petroleum and lubricants, food and feed grains, machinery

partners

UK 16%, Lebanon 9%, Greece 8%, Russia 12%

partners

UK 12%, Japan 9%, Italy 10%, Germany 9%, US 8%

Greek area - agriculture

5.6%

Greek area - industry

24.9%

Greek area - recipient

ODA, $NA

Greek area - services

69.5% (1994)

Illicit drugs

transit point for heroin via air routes and container traffic to Europe, especially from Lebanon and Turkey, also some cocaine transits en route to Russia

Industries

food, beverages, textiles, chemicals, metal products, tourism, wood products

Turkish area

purchasing power parity - $520 million (1995 est.)

0.5% (1995 est.)

$3,900 (1995 est.)

215% (1994)

75,320

1.6% (1994)

2.6% (1992)

$59 million (f.o.b., 1994)

$330 million (f.o.b., 1994)

during 1977-93, received substantial grants and loans from Turkey

by occupation

services 52.9%, industry 23.6%, agriculture 23.5% (1994)

commodities

citrus, potatoes, textiles

commodities

food, minerals, chemicals, machinery

partners

UK 48%, Turkey 22%

partners

Turkey 48%, UK 19%

Turkish area - agriculture

11.4%

Turkish area - industry

22.9%

Turkish area - services

65.7% (1994)

Defense expenditures

exchange rate conversion - $493 million, 5.6% of GDP (1995)

Greek area

AM 11, FM 8, shortwave 0

270,000 (1993 est.)

1 (repeaters 34)

107,000 (1992 est.)

Greek Cypriot National Guard (GCNG; includes air and naval elements), Greek Cypriot Police

Manpower availability

males age 15-49

190,372

males fit for military service

130,880

males reach military age (18) annually

5,749 (1996 est.)

Telephone system

excellent in both the Greek and Turkish areas

domestic

open wire, fiber-optic cable, and microwave radio relay

international

tropospheric scatter; 3 coaxial and 5 fiber-optic submarine cables; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 2 Indian Ocean), 2 Eutelsat, 2 Intersputnik, and 1 Arabsat

Telephones

331,000 (1995 est.)

Turkish area

AM 2, FM 6, shortwave 0

42,170 (1985 est.)

1

75,000 (1993 est.) Defense

Turkish Cypriot Security Force

Airports

total

15

with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m

8

with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m

3

with paved runways under 914 m

3

with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m

1 (1995 est.)

Greek area - paved

5,694 km

Greek area - total

10,448 km

Greek area - unpaved

4,754 km

Heliports

4 (1995 est.)

Merchant marine

note

a flag of convenience registry; includes ships from 48 countries among which are Greece 706, Germany 171, Russia 44, Netherlands 31, Belgium 30, Japan 29, Cuba 21, UK 17, Spain 14, and Hong Kong 13 (1995 est.)

ships by type

bulk 490, cargo 562, chemical tanker 27, combination bulk 53, combination ore/oil 22, container 115, liquefied gas tanker 3, multifunction large-load carrier 4, oil tanker 129, passenger 6, passenger-cargo 1, refrigerated cargo 62, roll-on/roll-off cargo 28, short-sea passenger 17, specialized tanker 3, vehicle carrier 2

total

1,524 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 23,949,242 GRT/40,236,638 DWT

Ports

Famagusta, Kyrenia, Larnaca, Limassol, Vasilikos Bay

Railways

0 km

Turkish area - paved

5,278 km

Turkish area - total

6,116 km

Turkish area - unpaved

838 km